Childbirth as a Pre-Existing Condition

By on September 23, 2009 in health care for women

The National Women’s Law Center report “Nowhere to Turn: How the Individual Health Insurance Market Fails Women” exposes the use of gender ratings and “pre-existing conditions” to make healthcare more costsly for women and deny them necessary services. The report states, in part:

Insurance companies can reject applicants for health coverage for a variety of reasons that are particularly relevant to women. For example, it is still legal in nine states and D.C. for insurers to reject applicants who are survivors of domestic violence. Insurers can also reject women for coverage simply for having previously had a Cesarean section (C-section).

You can find the complete report by clicking here.

About Valerie Young

Valerie Young is a public policy analyst who is mad as hell about the status of women in the United States and is doing her part to promote social justice by arming mothers with information and a healthy dose of outrage. She works for the NAMC as the Advocacy Coordinator of their MOTHERS initiative. Follow her on Twitter @WomanInDC and on Facebook as Valerie Young and Your (Wo)Man in Washington.
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  • LindaJ

    The thought of categorizing domestic violence as a pre-existing condition is mind boggling and makes my stomach churn. When did making a victim's life infinitely worse by denying necessary medical attention and causing financial strain seem like an ethical approach? But then again, do ethics play any part in these decisions? How sad and revolting.

  • sasha

    How do gynecologists proceed with diagnosing Ovarian Cysts?

    Although we do not see an increase in the rate of ovarian cysts after tubal reversal surgery, polycystic or simply cystic ovaries are one of the concerns some patients have expressed after tubal reversal surgery. For most, a thorough exam after the tubal reversal surgery, or close monitoring after the tubal reversal surgery will alleviate these fears.
    and what is relation between tubal reversal and Ovarian cysts